PM speaks to 45k prayer gathering

The UK's largest prayer gathering the Festival of Life – some 45,000 strong – organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron and Shadow Employment Minister Stephen Timms to ExCel London Docklands last week (17 April).

After a private meeting with RCCG's General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, David Cameron received a warm welcome when he was introduced to the crowd by Pastor Agu Irukwu, leader of RCCG UK which currently has 732 churches.

During his eight minute address, the Prime Minister spoke about aspiration, The Big Society and religious freedom.

"I believe in aspiration. I believe the only limit to someone's potential is their own ambition and talent and I look out into this crowd and I can see someone who will hold my role and become Prime Minister of this great country."

The Prime Minister praised RCCG's dedication to community service. He said, "For years I've tried to explain to people what The Big Society is, some people were determined not to understand it but I should have brought them here to the Festival of Life because this is the Big Society in action."

He added, "Just think how great our country Britain would be if we built on that, if we had an even bigger Big Society where even more people shared your family values, values of prudence, of hard work, of looking out for those who fall on hard times. With these values we can achieve the Britain we all want to live in, where the oppressed are cared for, where the lonely are befriended, where it's not where you come from but it's the content of your character that really matters."

The Prime Minister also spoke about Britain's Christian roots. "Let us be proud that this is a Christian country where we stand for the freedom to practise your faith and where we stand up for Christians and all those who are persecuted anywhere in our world."

The Rt Hon Stephen Timms, Shadow Minister for Employment, also addressed FoL and was interviewed by Pastor Agu. During the interview Stephen Timms encouraged Christians to get involved in politics. He said, "Step forward and join the party you feel you can support and really get stuck in."

"People often say you shouldn't mix faith and politics, and if you do, you are asking for trouble but I think they are drawing the wrong message. The truth is faith in Christ is a great starting point for politics."

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